Islanders have chance to take to the skies in iconic Spitfire
THE sounds of a Spitfire were heard across the island yesterday and will continue over the weekend as islanders in search of an adrenaline rush take flight.
Sat in their very own cockpit, passengers get see Guernsey from a completely different perspective.
Yesterday was the first time that Spitfire flight experiences have been offered from Guernsey.
Flights were initially due to take place yesterday and today, and due to popular demand, they have been extended to Monday and Tuesday.
Islanders who fly in the TR9 two-seater aircraft will get to decide how to spend their flight time, whether that be circling the island, taking over the controls, or doing some aerobatics.
If all goes to plan, Spitfires.com hopes to return each year offering flights to islanders.
‘The Spitfire is the most beautiful plane on the planet, it shaped our futures from the Second World War and saved us from tyranny,’ said Spitfires.com head of operations Mark Hillier.
‘It stands for what was world-leading British engineering in the 1930s that we should be proud of, it’s our heritage.
‘You’re only alive once, and if you do it, you’ll be absolutely blown away.’
Previously the only way to fly in a Spitfire as an experience was as a flight training package, which is what the company started off doing in 2010.
In 2015, after long discussions, Spitfires.com was the first to receive Civil Aviation Authority approval to fly guests under informed consent, meaning every passenger had to understand the risks involved.
‘Everyone knows the Spitfire, even people who have no concept of aviation will have heard of the Spitfire,’ said Mr Hillier.
‘The history of such an iconic aircraft is like nothing else and I think that’s what makes this opportunity so special.’
The flights are being conducted from the Guernsey Aero Club, where friends and family can come to watch.
Prices start from £3,500 for 30 minutes and can be booked by calling 01243 531147, or online at https://www.spitfires.com/spitfire-flights#guernsey-spitfire-flight-options.
An ‘adrenaline-fuelled’ flight over Guernsey
Reporter Lucy Rouget was on board the Spitfire for a first run yesterday. She describes the experience
ANTICIPATION, anxiety and adrenaline are just a few of the feelings I felt during this experience.
From arriving at the Aero Club not entirely sure what to expect, to taking the controls and flying the plane not long after, I’m still finding the words to describe it.
During some aerobatics, I saw the island from above while upside down, something I’m sure very few people will ever be able to say.
While I had an incredible and adrenaline-filled experience, the smell of the fuel and fumes was a stark reminder of the history of these planes, and the young pilots who risked their lives to fly them.
